Chapter 2 - Everett followed Claire.Not because he trusted her.
Because something in his chest refused to let her disappear.
He stayed several vehicles behind as Claire's old Honda left the travel plaza.
She drove east.
Then north.
Then turned onto a county road.
Everett's Harley followed through the winding Kentucky countryside.
At the next intersection, Claire suddenly checked her rearview mirror.
Everett slowed.
She kept driving.
Ten minutes later, her car pulled into a tiny motel.
Everett parked across the street.
Claire got out with Junie.
She carried two bags.
Nothing else.
No luggage.
No groceries.
No sign they intended to stay long.
Everett watched her enter Room 14.
He waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Then he knocked.
Claire opened the door with a kitchen knife in her hand.
Everett raised both hands.
“Easy.”
Her expression hardened.
“Why did you follow us?”
“You lied to me.”
“No.”
“You said my daughter gave Junie that necklace.”
Claire's grip tightened around the knife.
“I said what I know.”
“My daughter died six years ago.”
“I know.”
Everett stared at her.
“How?”
Claire looked toward Junie.
The little girl was asleep on the motel bed.
Claire lowered the knife.
“You deserve the truth.”
Everett entered.
Claire closed the curtains.
Then locked the door.
Three locks.
Everett noticed.
She was terrified.
Not nervous.
Terrified.
“Who are you running from?”
Claire sat down.
“My sister was named Lily Bennett.”
Everett's heart stopped.
“Lily?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Lily was your daughter.”
Everett stared.
“My sister's name was Hannah.”
Claire's expression changed.
“I know.”
He took a step closer.
“Then stop playing games.”
Claire opened a drawer.
Inside was a stack of photographs.
She handed him one.
Everett looked down.
The photograph showed Lily at twenty-three.
Pregnant.
One hand resting over her stomach.
Everett's knees almost gave out.
“No…”
Claire whispered.
“She never told you.”
He stared at the photograph.
His daughter had been pregnant?
That couldn't be true.
Lily had died in a car accident.
There had been no mention of a pregnancy.
No hospital records.
No funeral evidence.
Nothing.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Lily.”
Everett's hands began shaking.
“When?”
“Two weeks before she died.”
“You knew her?”
“I was her best friend.”
Claire paused.
“She came to me because she was afraid.”
“Of who?”
Claire didn't answer.
Everett already knew the question mattered.
“Who was the father?”
Claire looked toward Junie.
Everett followed her gaze.
His breathing stopped.
“No.”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“Lily had a daughter.”
Everett whispered the words.
“Junie?”
Claire nodded.
Everett stepped backward.
“No.”
“Everett…”
“No.”
He pointed toward the sleeping child.
“My daughter died six years ago.”
“Yes.”
“And Junie is six.”
Claire nodded.
“June 17.”
Everett's eyes widened.
Lily died June 21.
Four days after Junie's supposed birthday.
He stared at Claire.
“What happened?”
Claire took a breath.
“Lily wasn't killed in a car accident.”
Everett's expression changed.
“What?”
“She was running.”
“From who?”
Claire opened another envelope.
Inside were newspaper clippings.
Missing persons reports.
Photographs.
One name appeared repeatedly.
VICTOR HALE.
Everett recognized him.
Everyone in the Kentucky biker community did.
Victor Hale had once been involved in stolen vehicles and illegal gambling.
But he had disappeared years ago.
Claire whispered:
“He was Lily's fiancé.”
Everett's jaw tightened.
“My daughter never told me.”
“She was ashamed.”
“Of him?”
“Of what he was doing.”
Claire looked at Junie.
“Lily found out Victor wasn't just dealing drugs or stealing cars.”
Everett waited.
“He was selling people.”
Silence.
“He wasn't doing it alone.”
Claire's voice trembled.
“There were people in law enforcement.”
Everett's hands curled into fists.
“Where was Junie when Lily died?”
Claire looked down.
“With me.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily knew Victor would kill her if he found out about the baby.”
Everett stared at her.
“Then how did Lily die?”
Claire hesitated.
“She didn't.”
Everett froze.
Claire whispered:
“The woman they buried wasn't Lily.”
Before Everett could answer, headlights swept across the motel curtains.
Claire looked up.
Her face drained of color.
She went to the window.
A black SUV was parked outside.
The same one from the travel plaza.
Claire whispered:
“They found us.”
A second vehicle pulled in behind it.
Then a third.
Everett looked at her.
“How many?”
Claire swallowed.
“Enough.”
A shadow moved beneath the motel door.
Then came three slow knocks.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Junie stirred in her sleep.
A man's voice came through the door.
“Claire.”
Everett looked at Claire.
She looked back.
The voice came again.
“You've been running for six years.”
May you like
A pause.
“It's time to give the girl back.”
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